English football faces huge disruption after a top FIFA official said that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will have to be played in winter.

Jerome Valcke, general secretary of the sport’s global governing body, said the tournament would take place between 15 November and 15 January “at the latest” to avoid the searing desert temperatures of a Gulf summer.

The bombshell disclosure will wreak havoc with the already packed timetable for the English Premier League putting at risk hundreds of millions of pounds of TV rights and sponsorship deals.

Finding alternatives: Jerome Valcke
Speaking in an interview with Radio France Mr Valcke said: ”The dates for the World Cup (in Qatar) will not be June-July, To be honest, I think it will be held between 15 November and 15 January at the latest.

“If you play between 15 November and the end of December that’s the time when the weather conditions are best, when you can play in temperatures equivalent to a warm spring season in Europe, averaging 25 degrees. That would be perfect for playing football.”

The surprise comments caught FIFA on the hop and the Zurich based body quickly rushed out a statement saying no formal decision will be taken before the next World Cup in Brazil this summer. FIFA’s vice-president Jim Boyce said he was “totally surprised” by the Valcke’s interview.

The timing of the 2022 tournament has been in doubt it was controversially awarded to the tiny oil and gas rich Emirate in December 2010.

Temperatures can reach 50 degrees centigrade during June and July when the four week event is normally held. It was feared that the extreme heat could pose a threat to the health and even life of players, officials and fans.

Today’s apparent confirmation that World Cup will be moved into the middle of the European football season immediately provoked a wave of incredulity in the football world.

Former Millwall chairman and TV Dragon Theo Pathitis said on Twitter: “Worldcup 2022 to be played Nov-Jan ! FIFA have you lost the f****** plot!”

Former Nottingham Forest and Celtic striker and Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk called the decision “embarrassing.”

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said in August it would be “nigh-on impossible” to move the finals to winter.

As well as requiring a massive rescheduling of the 38 match Premier League season, other games that could be affected include qualifiers for the 2024 European Football Championships and Champions League group stage fixtures that normally take place in the Autumn.

Mr Valcke did not say whether he favoured a World Cup in the winter of 2021/22 or 2022/23, but complicating factors would include the timing of the Winter Olympics in early 2022 and the African Cup of Nations scheduled for January 2023.

Players participating in the World Cup would be expected to join their national squads at least a fortnight before the first match, meaning that they could be away from their clubs for close to two months. Qatar’s national day is on 18 December and might be an obvious date for a final or opening ceremony.

In its statement FIFA said: “Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained today in the Radio France interview - as he had already mentioned previously - that in his view the 2022 FIFA World Cup must take place in winter and the best possible time frame would be 15 November to 15 January.

“However, the precise event date is still subject to an ongoing consultation process which involves all main event stakeholders, including both the international football community (FIFA, confederations, member associations, leagues, clubs, players) as well as FIFA’s commercial partners (commercial affiliates and media rights licensees).

“As the event will not be played until eight years’ time the consultation process will not be rushed and will be given the necessary time to consider all of the elements relevant for a decision.

“Consequently, no decision will be taken before the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as agreed by the FIFA executive committee.”

There have been 19 World Cups to date but no World Cup finals match has ever been played outside of May, June or July.

Failed bidders Australia have vowed to seek compensation from Fifa if the 2022 World Cup is played in winter.